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weither i am still legal too post in here i don’t know but i will anyhow because i wanted too see any of you relate too this, and i am going too try too make this not sound like a cry baby session because i have some regrets, but then again in the end i really don’t.
i was once a certified mechanic, when i was in school i was one of the highest scoring in my class and had a good reputation, i graduated with honors in 2012, my class worked much like a regular shop, book work for homework, during the day in class we wrenched and it was just like a regular day in the shop. i had got myself quite accustomed too the way of the mechanic and soon became one of the shop team leaders in my last few terms.. got quite high on myself i will admit, may have developed little dog syndrome at times as eric describes it.
when i graduated i got a jobe IMMEDIATLY since the school thought so highly of me, and at first the guy who was my supervisor really was impressed with me, he saw that so far i was picking up on things quick, but then things tightened down. i worked as a mechanic for a small lawn and landscape business in Hickery corners Michigan near Delton and Plainwell, wasn’t getting paid flat rate just $10.00 an hour at first, things started going not too well, the supervisor was used too his son which knew the place up and down and the vehicles in it… when i came in and the pressure came down he expected me too perform near his sons performance, but i was a brand new technician. long story short in January of 2013 i got laid off due too bad weather, but i am sure it was because i was not performing too his standards.
when i look back at this it made me not want too pursue a career as a technician any longer, the cost of tools, the fact you have too cut short cuts and rush the job too make what will probably be flat rate pay if i want too continue as a technician… admittedly i beat myself up over it, all that hard work for training, 2 years of education flushed down the toilet because i felt like i failed and all the times when i was student council president at that school telling those kids, nothing is impossible its just another challenge. i wanted too be a mechanic so bad, working on cars is such a passion!
but in the end i looked at it like this, spending thousands on tools, and the job isn’t even fun anymore because you have too bust your balls just too get the job done fast enough too make a dollar. your customers want you too rush and sometimes treat you like crap, takes all the stuff that made working on cars fun and just smashes it down repeatedly too me. now i work on cars for people that need help, i have replaced thermostats, serpentine belts, done break jobs, tune ups, Diagnostics… people who are in a pinch who don’t have a single penny too spend and there car is guzzling gasoline or something isn’t working right… i have done jobs for them because i know what its like too be in there position except they cant fix the car themselves which must really suck. so i do as god requests and help these people in there hard times, take my tool box, put it in my trunk, go too there house and do one of the things i was built too do… wrench.
so in the end i regret my decision, but i go back and realize i really don’t.
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Bingo you get it most of us that been there done that
Back in the 60s it was fun today there is NOT a car that worth anything
I have seen it time and time again were some one went to school
Became a good tech only to hate working on cars
Flat rate bad pay cars that you just can not work on or get
Parts for today there is not one car that is any good
Today’s cars are junk and not meant to work on or last
I regret going in to this line of work because it just plain sucks
Have close to 1000,000 in tools and stil don’t have the right tool for today’s
Cars and Need more this is insane
I predict in 10 years it will be al most impossible to find some one to work
On cars
So you are NOT alone about regreting this feld most of us that’s been
At it for years HATE itWorking on vehicles under flat rate will really change your outlook on repairing cars.
It leads to dishonesty because you want to make money in addition to repairing the vehicles problems.
Tool costs,education and constantly having to keep up with changing models. Flat rate times usually always go down over time when short cuts are found. Dealerships have ridiculous warranty and recall times that will leave you in the poor house if you don’t find yourself at the right shop. favoritism by service writers and shop managers who are only concerned with making the largest possible bonus,employees be damned.Maybe try and find a union shop to join up with. I hear they have life a little better than the rest of us.
yes, because there are so many tools out there mechanics constantly need too buy like something as stupid as the star bits with the nipples in the center on GM cars that you need too get a special star bit set so you can replace the throttle position sensor on a 2000 Buick Regal… and thats a 2000s car 14 years old too date! millions spent in tools and still it isn’t enough. Because every shop seems too be looking for the experienced technician with training, no room for entry level technicians who didn’t grow up in Daddys garage, doesn’t matter if you have the ambition too learn sometimes and its frustrating because even if they take you in they wont want too take time too teach you they just expect you too dive in and work like everyone ells! and cars today for example my own car, i love my car but seriously they are literally making cars too be throw away, someone buys the car and when the lease is up they sell it and buy another car on a lease, when the next owner gets that car a hoast of issues, i love my grand prix but i have had too replace the PCM, throttle body, and the evaporative emissions system solenoid bolted too the frame and soon i KNOW i will have too replace those coolant elbows that go into the belt tensioner sending coolant too the heater core, but at least the parts like $5.00 bucks and just about 30 minutes of turning a wrench, and then constant studying and certification renewals all the time.
truthfully i get just as much joy from helping people on here how i can with there car issues, helping a friend with his old pontiac with the shreaded serpantine belt and getting that replaced, doing a break job on my grandpas Buick because he simply enjoys spending time wrenching with me, replacing a thermostat on a PT cruiser… just helping people who barley have the money for the parts who really dont know how too wrench themselves, here i am friend don’t worry i got your back!
i guess i will just have too call myself the rescue technician which i guess isn’t so bad.
SHOtime2511 stated:
Working on vehicles under flat rate will really change your outlook on repairing cars.
It leads to dishonesty because you want to make money in addition to repairing the vehicles problems.
Tool costs, education and constantly having to keep up with changing models. Flat rate times usually always go down over time when short cuts are found. Dealerships have ridiculous warranty and recall times that will leave you in the poor house if you don’t find yourself at the right shop. favoritism by service writers and shop managers who are only concerned with making the largest possible bonus, employees be damned.
Maybe try and find a union shop to join up with. I hear they have life a little better than the rest of us.stingray66 stated:
So you are NOT alone about regreting this feld most of us that’s been…At it for years HATE itAfter being an auto/truck tech for for 38 years I agree with you. It seems like it’s a prerequisite for this to happen to people in this trade. I’m really surprise more haven’t commented…after 38 years my career ended up like Eric’s with a twist.
Being a Union Tech for 38 years I probably agree I had it better than the non-union shops…but the Union and the Dealer’s I worked for cared less about the Technician’s. If you didn’t make time and money…good by.
13aceofspades13 stated: i guess i will just have too call myself the rescue technician which i guess isn’t so bad…..here i am friend don’t worry i got your back!
13aceofspades13, you know your stuff,keep your head up…you will find a place in doing what you like ,but don’t do it for nothing…reap the awards for your expertise.
Sad to hear such negative attitudes from mechanics nowadays… Not surprised, just sad. I own a small independent shop near Chicago and have always been against flat rate. I pay my techs hourly. I have always felt that with flat rate, quality suffers and with the stiff competition out there, you must stand out against the crowd of other shops. We have kind of an unique dynamic here… We do mechanical repairs, body repairs, and used vehicle sales. I have three employees: a mechanic, a body man, and an apprentice. They don’t make huge money but I treat them with respect, give them a great work atmosphere, and let them repair their own vehicles (on their own time) whenever needed. I still have to put my foot up their ass every now and again… But not often. They are a great crew. We have a lot of fun and get the job done right! I admire what you are doing… being a mobile mechanic and helping out people. It seems to me that you might want to turn that into a business on it’s own. Good luck and keep the faith! Aaron
I work “flat rate” and don’t have a problem with it. I work at a small local shop that more or less functions like a “rent-a-bay”. We order our own parts and speak with customers. It’s more like we pay the business a portion of the money we make off of each job we do for the use of the facility (stuff like lifts and the alignment machine along with other shop equipment). The owner of the shop pretty much just handles the legal stuff and runs the register when he’s not derping around in the shop with us. There are 2 hourly guys (generally students from the local state college) and 3 techs in the shop including myself and we each generally manage our own client base. Walk-in stuff is generally handled on a “turn style” basis where we each take turns, though it gets a little messed up from time to time when one of us is working on something and our turn comes up. Overall it’s a pretty relaxed environment. There’s some politics involved but that stuff is always there. Just be man, take your hits when they come, don’t go around cutting throats, and know how to stand up for yourself if someone starts messing with your business and flat rate can be a much more “entrepreneur” style of work.
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